Picnic

Today being a Friday and school holidays we spent it with my best-friend-from-school and her DD (aged 6). Neither of us wanted to be in our respective houses (mine full of ill DH and mess, hers feels too full with all of us in it) so we decided to picnic come rain or shine. The rain held off despite ominous clouds and we had a wonderful day. My older children and Friend's DD love each other and always have so much fun together. My 3YO in particular loves this child. Friend and I both grateful our respective offspring have so much affection for each other even though since school got in way of our meetings we see each other infrequently.

Think it more harmonious when DD2 plays with kids of different ages.....more than 1 3YO seems to equal disputes and disagreements....don't remember this being such an issue with DD1 but then everything is extreme with DD2!

The girls did lots of running about, hide and seek, making patterns with daisys and grass. My baby was an angel all day, enjoyed the picnic, had a bit of a crawl then nursed to sleep in my arms while we drank tea and the older girls played. We fed the ducks - well more like very tame and greedy ducks over ran us, frightened kids hid behind me and my wheelie shopper (another use for it!) while Friend fed them!

Friend much admired yet another sling she'd not seen.

DD1 overcame her fear of dogs much to my relief as along with dreading wandering about in rain all day I'd been anticipating her clinging to me every time a dog went past as she has done on previous days out to places where dogs roam freely.

Only small incident involved DD2 and ridiculously high, metal public loo....suffice to say I was glad I packed spare trousers....they were for baby but what's long and loose on her was short, tight and rocking that whole 80s leggings look on a 3yo!

I knew we'd enjoy our day as Friend and I never run out of chatter and the kids never tire of playing together so the dry weather was a positive bonus! And I returned to a husband feeling better AND a house tidier than we'd left it...happy days. Now I have 3 sleeping daughters and I am enjoying a lovely, quiet evening - in itself a rarity due to non-sleeping baby and undone chores due to unwell hubby.

I love days like this, I will hold onto this feeling of rightness on days where chaos reigns.